Israel Story

48: "Achi"


Listen Later

When God first spoke to Benjamin, he was reading the newspaper. That was just the start of a wild journey that led two Orthodox brothers from the Bronx to a new life, a new homeland, a new lord and - above all - to each other.

Growing up, Benjamin and Reuven Berger never imagined they'd be roommates well into their seventies. Nor did they imagine their lives would unfold as brothers in faith. But from their majestic home in the serene village of Ein Kerem, they reflect on an unusual, almost biblical, path that led them far apart and then back together. 

In the prologue, Mishy Harman tries to understand why - if an alien landed in Israel today - it would probably think that the word "achi" is a form of Hebrew punctuation. 

Act I, "The Berger Bros," is a tale of two brothers who are brothers in more than just one way. Joel Shupack brings us the story of Benjamin and Reuven Berger, the Bronx-born sons of European Jews who escaped the Nazis. Tumultuous years of doubts, revelations and risks led them from a muddy copy of "Peyton Place" all the way to Jerusalem's small community of Messianic Jews.  

Ari Jacob composed and performed the original music in "The Berger Bros." Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions. Thanks to Dina Kraft for editorial help. Adam Milliner mixed the episode. The end song, *November, *is by Shaanan Streett, and features Selva de Mar. It was written in memory of Shaanan's sister, Tova.

Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or Tablet Magazine.

Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Israel StoryBy Israel Story

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

1,193 ratings


More shows like Israel Story

View all
What Matters Now by The Times of Israel

What Matters Now

341 Listeners

Haaretz Podcast by Haaretz

Haaretz Podcast

307 Listeners

The Promised Podcast by TLV1 Studios

The Promised Podcast

427 Listeners

Identity/Crisis by Shalom Hartman Institute

Identity/Crisis

204 Listeners

For Heaven's Sake by Shalom Hartman Institute

For Heaven's Sake

438 Listeners

Unpacking Israeli History by Unpacked

Unpacking Israeli History

1,190 Listeners

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor by Ark Media, Ilan Benatar

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

3,251 Listeners

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing by The Times of Israel

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

1,093 Listeners

Unholy: Two Jews on the News by Unholy Media

Unholy: Two Jews on the News

594 Listeners

Israel: State of a Nation with Eylon Levy by State of a Nation Podcast

Israel: State of a Nation with Eylon Levy

369 Listeners

Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam by Unpacked

Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

140 Listeners

Here I Am With Shai Davidai by Shai Davidai

Here I Am With Shai Davidai

354 Listeners

Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas by Boundless Israel, Inc.

Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas

104 Listeners

Ask Haviv Anything by Haviv Rettig Gur

Ask Haviv Anything

828 Listeners

Being Jewish with Jonah Platt by Jonah Platt

Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

479 Listeners